Odisha: Lady Teacher Alleges Harassment, Death Threat By Her Colleagues in Kandhamal

Baliguda: A lady teacher named Sunita Pradhan has alleged physical and mental harassment by her school Principal and two other male colleagues at Kudutuli High School in K Nuagaon tehsil here. She has lodged a complaint and has requested an immediate redressal of her pleas.

Sunita is a contractual teacher at Kudutuli High School in Baliguda. Another contractual teacher Sadashiv Behera had been absent from school from July 22-28 but wanted to sign in the attendance register. When Sunita opposed to this, Sadashiv manhandled her and threatened her if she mention this to anyone, alleges Sunita. She says that she immediately brought this matter to Principal Chandra Sekhar Maharana, who instead of helping her asked her to stay away since it was Sadashiv’s personal matter.

Sunita further alleges that her tormentors mounted the pressure on her to drop the matter and the PET Teacher Sushant Baliar Singh too joined the culprits.

Sunita said, “Regular caste-based racial comments were made to me. And as I refused to back down, they threatened to murder me just like Itishree murder case. I am knocking the law’s door now in hope for justice and in absolute fear for my life.”

The infamous Itishree murder case was in reference to how Itishree Pradhan was brutally murdered when she raised voice against harassment by SI of Schools in Kashipur block, Rayagada in 2013. Culprits had poured kerosene on her and burned her. Despite nationwide uproar, this is one of the rare cases where CBI has not been able to trace out the main accused.